Fathers

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What the Fathers say

John 16:18

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Alexandria

The inspired disciples, not yet understanding what He had said, converse among themselves, and are in doubt as to what a little while, and again a little while, and ye shall not see Me, might mean.

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 11 ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

2124 This is why the disciples say, What does he mean by a little while and we will see him? We do not know what he means, they reply in an unassuming way. As Augustine remarks, when some do not understand the words of Scripture they belittle it, preferring their own theories to the authority of Scripture. Yet others, when they do not understand, unpretentiously admit their own lack of knowledge: "I am... a man who is weak and short-lived, with little understanding of judgment and laws" (Wis 9:5). …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

They therefore said: What is this that he says to us: A little while? We do not know what he is speaking about. They did not know what he meant by this; the disciples still had little understanding; whence the Lord rebuked them in Matthew fifteen: "Are you also still without understanding?"

Commentary on John, Chapter 16 ↗